FREIGHT ON COAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 30 June 1925, Page 7

FREIGHT ON COAL.

PROPOSED INCREASE

EFFECT ON TARANAKI’S DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Some further information as to the effect of the proposed increase in.railway freight on brown coal, especially in relation to the dairying industry in Taranaki,, hag.been obtained by a Star representative, and which shows that the expenses of manufacture will be considerably increased' thereby.' The increase in freight works out at 8s 7d per ton to Hawera and 10s, 2d per ton to New r Plymouth. The annual output from Waikato collieries for stations south of Taihape is 154,000 tons, and the bulk of this is used ui the dairying and freezing industries. To show-how the addition to the freight; charge is going to affect manufacturing costs, our informant quoted the case of the freezing work s at Waitara,- where,' it was estimated, the sum of £3OOO would be required to meet the increase in freight. It is estimated that approximately 40,000 tons of coal are annually required by the dairying and freezing industries in Taranaki, and on this basis the aggiegate estimated increase in freight to this province alone will be somewhere in the vicinity of £17,000. From the point of vie,v of the general public, the. increase means an extra slid nig per bag on the retail price, of coal, which is a matter for serious consideration ' by heads of families, ■ particularly in the winter' time. As our informant' pointed out, nothing more aireetly affected the cost of living than an'increase in fue! prices, for it meant that .the increases would be passed on to the consumer on practically every line where this cuss of coal was used as-a fue'.

It was interesting to note that rates on Newcastle and other imported coal were not to be increased. It was true that .the recent railway commission reported .that- freights for New' Zealand coal were too low, hut it should be remembered that the report dea’t with, the commission and not the national viewpoint. , It was suggested that now that dairy farmers representative of the whoie country were assembled in Hawera in conference, that the opportunity should be taken to consider the proposed' increase and to register a protest, .both individually and col'ectiyely; against the proposed alteration. The Minister had invited all concerned to; discuss the proposed rates, which wood come into force on July 12, and tb>i make representations which would receive .consideration before they were finally adopted.